Geese and ducks gather in the water at William Mason Regional Park in Irvine in 2015. A rabid bat was found at the park the weekend of April 15, OC Health officials said. (File photo by Ken Steinhardt, Orange County Register/SCNG)

IRVINE — A bat found last week at William Mason Regional Park has tested positive for rabies, the Orange County Health Care Agency said Thursday, April 20.

The bat was found dead Saturday, April 15, on a picnic bench by the lake and near a restroom.

The rabies virus is found in saliva and because bats have very small teeth, their bites may go unnoticed. The agency said most recent cases of human rabies in the U.S. have come from bat strains of rabies. Once symptoms start, rabies is almost always fatal, so preventative treatment is given to anyone who may been exposed to stop the illness.

Anyone who came into contact with the bat or saw someone else having contact is asked to call the epidemiology division to determine their risk for rabies. During business hours, call 714-834-8180 or after hours, call 714-834-7792.

Courtney Perkes has covered the medical beat for the Register since 2005. She was queasy when she watched surgery for the first time (a knee replacement) especially when a drop of blood splattered in her notebook! She loves writing about public health issues as well as the courage and resilience of patients facing illness. Courtney strives to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes yoga and not microwaving plastic. She is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

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